| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 24/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 3 |
| Copyright: Other |
Thomas Cook wins direct sales tussle
THOMASCook has won the fight to run ARTAC Worldchoice’s call-centre business, Worldchoice Direct, which should be ready to launch by September.The direct phone number will be featured in branded brochures as well as in a joint Worldchoice/Thomas Cook campaign which will start nationally at the launch.
Worldchoice managing director Julian Foster would not be drawn on how much commission would be paid back to agents whose clients booked direct, saying: “The deal is at least as good as that offered by any other company”.
Initially the call centre will operate from 8.30am to 8.30pm but if the venture is successful, it could extend to 24hrs.
Urbanweb managing director Steve Endacott had put forward a last-minute offer to run the call centre, offering 3% commission which he claimed was treble what Thomas Cook was proposing.